KONNICHIWA!

A newsletter from Oki Sato, general producer.
News on the Japan Pavilion’s progress, and his thoughts for the day.

Long, thin poles lined up on a framework in a warehouse-like area.
Disk-like plates attached to the ends of the rods. Each disk-like plate has a cable attached to it.

Exhibition

Unveiling the Mystery of the Intriguing Poles.

Fascinatingly, long, thin poles are meticulously lined up on the framework, shrouded in an air of mystery.
With delicate hands, we peel away the packing material, revealing a disc-like object perched on each pole.

Viewed from below, they look like this.

Directly beneath the disk lies a metal fitting, facilitating angle adjustments, while adjacent cables enable individual electrical control.

It’s quite the job to adjust each cable just right, but thinking about having to deal with nearly twenty times as many for the actual exhibition? Whew, talk about sweating over it!

A crowd of plastic bottles moves slowly along a conveyor belt, capturing the attention of everyone involved in the project.

Exhibition

​​A Crowd of Slowly Flowing Plastic Bottles.

A crowd of plastic bottles moves slowly along a conveyor belt, capturing the attention of everyone involved in the project.
While the plastic bottles are certainly eye-catching, the real star here is the conveyor belt tirelessly working beneath them.
This demonstration is all about testing the belt’s performance under the weight of the bottles, and so far, it’s passing with flying colors.

We eagerly anticipate what else will circulate at the show!
(Hint: Unfortunately, it won’t be sushi.)

Exhibition

Whoosh...

Whoosh...

“What is the length on the tail of the light?”
“It’s 600mm!”
“Could you try stretching it to 700mm?”
“Sure. Incoming 700mm!”

(Wow! It’s really now stretched by 100mm...!)

“Can you soften the outline around the head of the light more?”
“Absolutely. Softer outline incoming!”

(It’s significantly softer now!)

“Can you slow down the movement of the light midway, more syrupy?”
“Syrupy?”
“Yeah, syrupy.”
(...oh?)

Endless adjustments to the shape and movement of the light continue. I truly admire the dedication of the staff who toiled tirelessly, working day and night to prepare for today’s testing. Thank you very much!

Photo showing lighting fixtures being selected for use in the exhibition rooms

Exhibition

Quest for the Perfect Lighting Fixtures.

Today, we’re on a quest for the perfect lighting fixtures to make our exhibition rooms pop in the Japan Pavilion. The specific criteria, including size, brightness, warmth, and the softness of light contours, are being meticulously determined for each space.
We find ourselves pondering over two distinct lighting scenarios: Is it preferable to have strong light illuminating a dark-colored wall, or would a subtler glow on a light-colored wall be more fitting?
Additionally, we contemplate the warmth factor. Is it more inviting to have warm-colored light grace a cold-colored wall, or does the juxtaposition of cold-colored light against a warm-colored wall create a more harmonious ambiance?

As I delve into these considerations, contemplating the interplay of light and space, my thoughts gradually become as elusive as the mist settling over a tranquil landscape.

Photo showing lighting fixtures being selected for use in the exhibition rooms

Exhibition

Quest for the Perfect Lighting Fixtures.

Today, we’re on a quest for the perfect lighting fixtures to make our exhibition rooms pop in the Japan Pavilion. The specific criteria, including size, brightness, warmth, and the softness of light contours, are being meticulously determined for each space.
We find ourselves pondering over two distinct lighting scenarios: Is it preferable to have strong light illuminating a dark-colored wall, or would a subtler glow on a light-colored wall be more fitting?
Additionally, we contemplate the warmth factor. Is it more inviting to have warm-colored light grace a cold-colored wall, or does the juxtaposition of cold-colored light against a warm-colored wall create a more harmonious ambiance?

As I delve into these considerations, contemplating the interplay of light and space, my thoughts gradually become as elusive as the mist settling over a tranquil landscape.

Exhibition

Whoosh...

Whoosh...

“What is the length on the tail of the light?”
“It’s 600mm!”
“Could you try stretching it to 700mm?”
“Sure. Incoming 700mm!”

(Wow! It’s really now stretched by 100mm...!)

“Can you soften the outline around the head of the light more?”
“Absolutely. Softer outline incoming!”

(It’s significantly softer now!)

“Can you slow down the movement of the light midway, more syrupy?”
“Syrupy?”
“Yeah, syrupy.”
(...oh?)

Endless adjustments to the shape and movement of the light continue. I truly admire the dedication of the staff who toiled tirelessly, working day and night to prepare for today’s testing. Thank you very much!

A crowd of plastic bottles moves slowly along a conveyor belt, capturing the attention of everyone involved in the project.

Exhibition

​​A Crowd of Slowly Flowing Plastic Bottles.

A crowd of plastic bottles moves slowly along a conveyor belt, capturing the attention of everyone involved in the project.
While the plastic bottles are certainly eye-catching, the real star here is the conveyor belt tirelessly working beneath them.
This demonstration is all about testing the belt’s performance under the weight of the bottles, and so far, it’s passing with flying colors.

We eagerly anticipate what else will circulate at the show!
(Hint: Unfortunately, it won’t be sushi.)

Long, thin poles lined up on a framework in a warehouse-like area.
Disk-like plates attached to the ends of the rods. Each disk-like plate has a cable attached to it.

Exhibition

Unveiling the Mystery of the Intriguing Poles.

Fascinatingly, long, thin poles are meticulously lined up on the framework, shrouded in an air of mystery.
With delicate hands, we peel away the packing material, revealing a disc-like object perched on each pole.

Viewed from below, they look like this.

Directly beneath the disk lies a metal fitting, facilitating angle adjustments, while adjacent cables enable individual electrical control.

It’s quite the job to adjust each cable just right, but thinking about having to deal with nearly twenty times as many for the actual exhibition? Whew, talk about sweating over it!